Sihpromatum (Sip-row-may-tum) is defined as a blessing that at first appears to be a curse.

In 2005, Vancouver-native Savannah Grace (then 14 years old) was unexpectedly pulled out of school to join her mother and two siblings on an open-ended backpacking journey around the globe. Shocked, confused, and defiant, Savannah had to nevertheless come to terms with leaving behind the world as she knew it, including her friends and the comforts of home.

The memoir chronicles the first two months of the family adventure – in China and Mongolia – and Savannah’s gradual transformation from a teenager out of her element to a seasoned traveler.

With plenty of humor and self-reflection, the author describes her emotional and physical struggles (homesickness, long rides on crowded buses, hiking mountains in high heat and humidity), family dynamics, and the process of embracing life on the road. In an engaging way, she recounts many adventures, such as getting stranded in the Gobi Desert, and reflects on exploring new landscapes, cultures and foods.

The entire journey lasted four years and Sihpromatum is the first installment in a planned series. The book is available online (paperback and Kindle edition).

Pola Henderson is a travel writer and city explorer. Besides Jetting Around, her writing credits include CNN, Yahoo, Expedia, MasterCard, among others. She also runs JA Media, a boutique agency specializing in content writing and event production. Happily multicultural, Pola grew up in Krakow, lived in Chicago for 13 years, and is currently based in her soul city Paris.

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